Parish Council meeting minutes – Feb’22
March 18th, 2022
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on: Thursday 17th Feb 2022 at the Baptist Church Hall, Preston Road, Inskip
Present:
Cllr Phil James (PJ – Chair)
Cllr Geoff Carter (GC)
Cllr Martin Delaney (MD)
Cllr Alan Lingard (AL)
Clerk: Mike Ainsworth
Members of the Public: 3 members of the public
Apologies: Cllr Carol Berry (CB) who was representing the Parish Council at an LCC forum on road safety; Wyre Cllr Peter Cartridge; Brian and Eileen Dearnaley
cc:
Parish Councillors; Joanne Porter (Wyre Council); Wyre Cllr Susan Catterall; Wyre Cllr Peter Cartridge; LCC Cllr. Matthew Salter
Meeting opened: 19:00
Meeting closed: 20:10
Agenda
- Open Forum for the general public
- Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 20th Jan 2022
- Matters arising from the last meeting
- Planning
- Carrs Green
- Financial matters
- Any other business
Next meeting Scheduled for: Thursday 17th March 2022 at 7pm
Status: APPROVED
Chair: Cllr. Phil James
Date: 17th March 2022
1. Open Forum
1.1. Two members of the public attending raised further concerns over the alleged continued operation of a vehicle repair business from a domestic address in the village. Previously the resident had advised Wyre Council that he intended moving his operation to business premises, and as a result Wyre had closed their case on the matter. Now however it appeared that the resident might be continuing to operate a business this time operating on the highway. Members of the public showed video footage to Parish Councillors. The Parish Clerk asked that he be copied this footage, which would allow him to report the matter to both Wyre Council and to LCC Highways.
Action 2.22/1 – members of the public to supply Parish Council with evidence that resident continues to operate a vehicle repair business from his domestic address
Action 2.22/2 Parish Clerk to report to Wyre Council and to LCC Highways further evidence supplied to Parish Council by members of the public that resident continues to operate a vehicle repair business from his domestic address
1.2. The Parish Clerk offered apologies on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Dearnaley who had submitted a report on the state of public rights of way to the Parish Council for discussion at the meeting. It was agreed that this matter would be tabled as a regular item on the agenda for future meetings and that it would be helpful to Parish Councillors for a map to be marked up with the footpath names. The Parish Clerk advised members that the footpath names and routes could be seen easily using the “Mario” application on the LLC website.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting – approved as read.
3. Matters Arising – the Parish Clerk reported that four Actions remained open (see table below).
3.1. With regards to Action 8.21/8 (responsibility for hedge maintenance on the new estates) it was suggested that the matter might need to be escalated within the Create Homes Group.
3.2. With regards to Action 1.22/1 (obtaining a quote from contractor for installation of lifebuoy and information panels on the Common) Cllr. Carter agreed to chase up.
4. Planning
4.1. The Parish Clerk highlighted the public consultation on the full review of the Wyre Borough’s Local Plan, which is open until Thursday 10 March 2022. Cllr. James reminded Parish Councillors that in his earlier briefing by Wyre Planning officials he understood that the borough still had sufficient land to cater for planned housing need and that further encroachments into the Parishes was not anticipated. Notwithstanding those assurances he recommended that the Parish Council formally respond highlighting the Planning Inspector’s conclusion from 2018, namely that further expansion of the village was not sustainable.
Action 2.22/3 – Parish Clerk to submit formal response to Wyre public consultation on Local Plan
4.2. Cllr. James noted that a planning application had been submitted for a single-storey rear extension at Leach Villas on Preston Road. He noted that the adjoining semi already had a large rear extension.
5. Carrs Green
5.1. Cllr. Lingard confirmed delivery of the four information panels and urged that as they take up a large amount of storage space that they be installed sooner rather than later (open Action 1.22/1 refers).
5.2. The Parish Clerk confirmed that the Parish Council were up to date with all claims against the Lancashire Environmental Fund grant and that the Parish Council had until end of September to submit any further claims.
5.3. The Parish Clerk reminded Parish Councillors that a member of the public had again raised a suggestion that an avenue of trees be planted on the main road across the Common. The idea being to help define the boundary of the village and to improve the vista of the Common. Cllr. Delaney asked whether the Parish Council had recorded a clear decision on this matter. Following consultation of the Parish records the Clerk advised that the Parish Council had (in March 2021) resolved to consult with the public and that the public consultation (in April 2021) showed that half a dozen members of the public were in favour of the proposed avenue of trees though (to date) four members of the public opposed. The Parish Council resolved (April 2021) to seek technical advice as to suitable trees that might be planted as an avenue across the Common with Cllr. Delaney emphasizing that what was wanted was a meeting with suitable experts rather than commissioning yet another expensive report. The proposed meeting was held on the Common on Tuesday 24th August 2021.
5.4. Parish Councillors appreciated the efforts of Wyre Countryside volunteers in removing self-seeded trees and in coppicing willows adjacent to the Tank Trap. A member of the public had asked whether he could salvage cuttings left alongside the main road for firewood however it was understood that Wyre would be collecting these for use elsewhere within Wyre. Cllr. Delaney was concerned that these cuttings would be blown onto the road during high winds.
6. Financial Matters
6.1. The following financial payments were approved at the meeting: Clerk Salary; PAYE; Lengthsman’s fees.
6.2. Parish Councillors discussed a proposal to move bank accounts from NatWest to the Unity Trust Bank. The Parish Clerk reported that the Unity Trust appeared to be ideal if the Parish Council wished to move to internet banking as it was orientated towards charities, NGOs and local authorities that required multiple signatories to approve transactions.
7. Any Other Business
7.1. A model Councillor Code of Conduct drawn up by the Local Government Association had been circulated by Wyre Council with the suggestion that Parish Councils consider it for adoption. Following discussion the Parish Council formally adopted this Code of Conduct.
7.2. The Parish Clerk noted that Cllr. Houghton last attended a Parish Council in August, some six months ago. Unless he attended a meeting within the next forty-eight hours he would have absented himself from Parish Council affairs for six calendar months. The Parish Clerk reminded Parish Councillors that they did have the power to grant a leave of absence if they so desired. In the absence of granting a leave of absence his place on the Parish Council would automatically become vacant. It was agreed that the Parish Clerk write to Wyre Council informing the relevant officer there of the vacancy.
Action 2.22/4 – Parish Clerk to inform Wyre Council of Parish Council vacancy
7.3. Cllr. Lingard reported that Inskip would contribute to Wyre-in-Bloom again this year and proposed that the flower beds present a red, white and blue theme reflecting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
7.4. As regards the Platinum Jubilee Cllr. James reported that he had been approached by the Vicar who had been mandated by his Parochial Church Council Meeting to ask if the Parish Council had any celebratory plans in the pipeline? Parish Councillors discussed the subject and it was agreed to investigate what if anything neighbouring communities were planning and to suggest any ideas for celebrations in Inskip. Cllr. James agreed to liaise with Elswick and the Clerk agreed to liaise with Woodplumpton.
Action 2.22/5 – Parish Councillors to liaise with local and neighbouring communities with regards to plans to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
7.5. Cllr. James highlighted recent complaints locally about dog fouling. The Parish Clark advised that this had been raised repeatedly both in the Parish Newsletter and also with the Environmental Enforcement Officer at Wyre, who had been out and placed a number of signs about a year back. It was agreed that the next Parish Newsletter should again reflect that dog fouling is unacceptable.
7.6. Cllr. James noted that the North-West Stages Rally is scheduled for Saturday 19th March but that the Lewth Stage is not actually open to the public for safety reasons. Nonetheless it is understood that some spectators might turn up and that arrangements had been made for parking off road on an adjacent farmers land.